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inadequate

inadequate

118 4.4
Not enough or not good enough to do what is needed
  • adjective
  • /ˌɪnəˈkwɛdɪt/
translation icon : inadecuado
  • The shelter's facilities were inadequate for the number of people seeking help during the storm.
  • woefully inadequate
  • inadequate resources
  • inadequate infrastructure

In any case, it is quite inadequate as a democratic way of thinking.

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Examples

  • His dinner, too, was nutritionally inadequate.

  • And if you get one, your income is actually inadequate to protect your family.

  • Our resources are inadequate now!

  • If the deal we agreed to is inadequate, then we agree to nothing.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • In any case, it is quite inadequate as a democratic way of thinking.

  • Unfortunately, each of these approaches appears to be inadequate even in highly developed nations.

    Academic text (2011)
  • But we found these to be haphazard and inadequate in most cases.

  • And he underlined the point that the current position is therefore inadequate as it stands.

  • Our equipment is hopelessly inadequate.

  • At lower levels of income, the survivor's benefit may be inadequate to meet the remaining spouse's needs.

    Academic text (1990)

Synonyms

short
vsinadequate
1.0

Not having enough of what is needed

covers both amount and quality failure rather than only low quantity
poor
vsinadequate
838 1.0

Not good enough in quality or amount

is about failing to meet a needed standard rather than just low quality
limited
vsinadequate
162 2.0

Not very good at a skill or task

emphasizes failing to meet needs or standards rather than merely being mediocre
insufficient
vsinadequate
86 3.6

Not enough in amount or quality to meet a need

is the more formal choice in official or technical language
unfit
vsinadequate
51 3.7

Not suitable for a particular job or use

is used more generally for failing to meet needs or standards across situations
meager
vsinadequate
  • US
48 4.8

Too small in amount or quality to be enough

implies being not enough to satisfy a need or required standard
deficient
vsinadequate
35 4.3

Not having enough of something needed

refers to being not sufficient overall rather than missing a specific part
substandard
vsinadequate
27 4.4

Not as good as the usual or required quality

refers more broadly to lack in amount or suitability as well
unsatisfactory
vsinadequate
17 3.9

Not good enough to be acceptable

is used more for general lack in amount or quality rather than just acceptability
skimpy
vsinadequate
5 5.3

Too small in amount or size for what is needed

applies more broadly to poor quality or unsuitability, not only small size
scanty
vsinadequate
2 6.6

A small amount or number that is barely enough

covers both lack of amount and lack of quality rather than only small quantity
lacking
vsinadequate
1.8

Not having enough of something needed to do well

focuses on not meeting a required standard rather than simple absence
wanting
vsinadequate
4.4

Not good enough because it is missing something important

is the general term for not good enough across needs
dissatisfactory
vsinadequate
6.5

Not as good as expected or needed

is about lacking enough to meet a need or standard rather than causing dissatisfaction

Antonyms

234 2.7

Enough in amount or quality to meet a need

How Adequate

excellent
1.0
adequate
234 2.7
inadequate
118 4.4
insufficient
86 3.6

Surface Forms

inadequate positive

Morphology

inadequate = adequate (transparent) = in + adequate

This is a standard negative prefix added to 'adequate', yielding the directly predictable meaning 'not adequate'.

Etymology

The word inadequate begins with in- meaning 'not', and the rest is the familiar word adequate, which means 'enough' or 'equal to the need'. So, inadequate means 'not enough' or 'not good enough'.